A COVENTRY dad has been jailed for four years for a string of offences to feed a heroin habit.

Lee Hill broke into student accommodation, a city centre pub and its living quarters, stole a car and helped another thief make off with a bag containing £3,800.

Hill, 27, of Jenner Street, Hillfields, also gave heroin to a woman who was six months pregnant.

Coventry Crown Court heard the offences took place within a month last year while Hill was in the grip of a “very substantial drug habit”.

Hill – who has previous convictions for burglary, robbery, shoplifting, theft and criminal damage – admitted three burglaries and one theft.

He also admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and acquiring criminal property and was jailed for 48 months.

Passing sentence, Recorder David Pittaway QC told him: “You have a long list of previous convictions for a large number of different criminal offences.”

Peter Cooke, prosecuting, said Hill broke into a student common room in Raglan Street, Hillfields, on October 14 and stole a 40-inch TV.

Unknown to police, Hill had broken into Boston’s, in Far Gosford Street, two nights earlier and stolen a Citroen Picasso containing a crate of beer and a Wii console.

He had also broken into the living quarters but left when he saw a young child asleep in bed.

On October 27 – while on bail for the October 14 offence – Hill bought heroin from a dealer in Cambridge Street, Hillfields, and gave some to a pregnant woman.

And on November 12, while still on bail, Hill helped snatch £3,800 from a woman at William Hill, in Cross Cheaping, by telling her the thief had run off in the wrong direction. For his part Hill was given £150.

Richard Murray, defending, said Hill had been off heroin while on remand for the past seven months. Mr Murrary added: “He has recently become a dad. He wants to grow up and become a useful member of society.”